Valet rack



1965 c. E. GINGHER ETAL 3,

VALET RACK Filed Dec. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR CARL E. GINGHER CARL E. GINGHEFLJR.

1965 c. E. GINGHER ETAL 3,

VALET RACK Filed Dec. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS INVENTORS CARL E. GINGHER CARL E.GINGHER,JR'

BY 6M ATTORNEY United States Patent Ohio Filed Dec. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 331,449 Claims. (Cl. 108-28) The present invention relates to wardrobe racks, more particularly, to a knock-down clothes valet rack which can be readily assembled into a rigid and stable unit comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelves mounted on a vertical column upstanding from a base.

Many forms of valet racks have been proposed for the temporary storage of coats and hats. While many of these racks can be disassembled into several components, these components are quite large and occupy considerable space when the rack must be stored or is being transported. Those racks which have been constructed so as to be disassembled into relatively small pieces have the disadvantage that the racks are relatively unstable and not rigid when they are assembled. It has, therefore, been recognized that the need exists for a knock-down clothes valet rack which can be readily assembled from a number of relatively small components into a rigid and stable unit.

It is therefore the principle object of the present invention to provide a rigid and stable knock-down clothes valet rack.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a knock-down valet rack which can be readily assembled or disassembled by relatively unskilled personnel in a short period of time.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a knock-down clothes valet rack whose components can be fabricated from sheet metal and can be quickly assembled into a rigid unit.

The clothes valet rack of the present invention fulfills the above requirements and essentially comprises a T-shaped base having an umbrella rack formed thereon. A vertical column rises from said base and has on its upper portion a plurality of vertically spaced shelves. These shelves are detachably mounted to the vertical column by means of a vertically extending channel member which is attached to the rear edge of each shelf and to a supporting bracket affixed to the under-surface of the shelf. The supporting bracket tapers in two planes so as to impart maximum stability and rigidity to the individual shelves. Hanger supporting means may be provided along the front or on the sides of the lowermost shelf. To increase the rigidity of the assembled shelves vertical braces interconnect the rear corners of the shelves by means of detachable fasteners passing through corre sponding recessed portions in the vertical braces and angular members on the shelf corners.

The entire rack can be disassembled into relatively small components which take up a minimum of space during storage or shipping of the rack. However, upon assembly of the components a rigid and stable clothes valet rack is obtained which can readily support a considerable weight.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an over-all front perspective view of the valet rack of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded rear perspective view showing the assembly of the base and the vertical column;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the vertical column and rear of a shelf to show the structure for mounting a shelf on the column;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the under-surface of the top shelf;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the top shelf shown in FIGURE 4;

hFIGURE 6 is a side elevational View of the bottom s e f;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 6, but showing a modified hanger supporting structure; and

FIGURE 9 is an over-all perspective view of a modified valet rack having two vertical columns.

Returning now to the drawings, more particularly to FIGURE 1, wherein like referencesymbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views, 1 indicates generally a valet rack constructed in accordance with this invention. The valet rack basically comprises a base 2, a vertical column 3 upstanding from the base, and a plurality of shelves 4, 5 and 6 detachably mounted on the upper portion of the vertical column.

The base 2 comprises a cross piece 7 with a front piece 8 extending perpendicularly from the midpoint thereof. Both the cross piece 7 and the front piece 8 are formed from sheet metal into a channeled section and the extreme ends of each piece are closed, as indicated at 9. While not shown in the drawings, a resilient supporting pad may be mounted within the ends of the cross piece 7 and front piece 8.

Mounted on the cross piece 7 is an umbrella rack 10 formed from a single piece of sheet metal bent to form a front face 11 and having reverse ends 12 and 13 interconnecting rear faces 14 and 15. A channel member 16 is inserted between the ends of the rear faces 14 and 15 so that its web 17 is secured to the rear surface of front face 11, and the flanges 18 of the channel member have outwardly bent portions 19 which are affixed to the rear faces 14 and 15 such as by spot welding.

The lower ends of each of the reverse bends 12 and 13' are cut away at 20 and 21 so as to accommodate the cross piece 7. The heights of the cut away portions 20 and 21 are greater than that of the height of the crosspiece 7 so as to accommodate drip trays 22 therein. Each drip tray comprises a receptacle 23 and a curvedhandle 24 on the outer end of the receptacle, which handle is curved to conform to the configuration of theend of the umbrella rack. The bottom of the receptacle slidably rests on the upper surface of the cross piece 7 and receives the points of umbrellas positioned in the umbrella rack so as to collect water dripping therefrom.

The top of the umbrella rack 10 is closed by umbrella holders 25 each of which comprises a plurality of spaced umbrella openings 26. The edges of each of the holders 25 are bent downwardly to form flanges which fit about the outer surface of the umbrella rack and are attached thereto.

On the front piece 8 of the base there is attached a.

triangular sheet metal member 27 which has a U crosssection. An open edge 28 of the triangular member 27 is cut to straddle the front piece 8 and is attached thereto. The other open edge 29 is positioned against the front face 11 and is secured thereto by bolts 30 which are used in assembling the vertical column 3 in a manner to be presently described. The ends of the bolts 30 engage threaded openings formed in cross brackets 31 mounted vertical column 3 is preferably formed from a high quality sheet metal such as furniture steel.

The upper portion of the vertical column 3 is provided with a plurality of pairs of bolt holes 33 passing through both the front and rear faces of the column. In addition, there are also provided a plurality of horizontally extending slots 34 in the front face only of the column 3.

The shelves 4, and 6 which are mounted on the upper portion of the vertical column 3 are formed from a relatively light sheet material and are performated with openings 35. The edges of the shelf openings 35 are bent downwardly and the extreme portion of the downwardly bent edges are again bent inwardly so that the general shape of the opening edges is substantially a Z as may be seen in FIGURE 7.

The front and side edges of each of the shelves are bent downwardly to form a flange 36 and the rear edges of the shelves are bent upwardly so as to form a stop 37 to prevent objects being placed upon the shelves from being pushed over the rear edges thereof.

The shelves 4, 5 and 6 are detachably mounted on the vertical column 3 by a bracket 38 which is U-shaped in cross-section and tapers both longitudinally and transversely. The bracket 38 has flanges 39 the upper edges of which are spot welded to the under-surface of the shelf. These flanges extend beyond the rearward edge of the shelf, as shown at 40. The flanges taper inwardly toward the rear edge of the shelf. The bottom or web 41 of the bracket tapers downwardly toward the rear portion of the shelf and terminates short of the extended bracket edges 40 so that a cut-out portion 42 is formed in the rear end of the bracket. A channel member 43 is spot welded in the cut-out 42 to the bracket edges 40 and the stop 37 of the shelf. The cross-section of the channel member 43 conforms to the cross section of the vertical column 3 so as to closely fit thereon.

The lower edge of the channel memebr 43 is provided with a tab 44 which extends inwardly and then downwardly.

As may be seen in FIGURE 3, a shelf is detachably mounted on the vertical column by inserting the tab 44 into one of the horizontal slots 34. The shelf is then pivoted upwardly and the upper end of the channel member 43 is fastened to the column by a bolt pasing through an opening 45 in the stop and channel member of the shelf and the bolt hole 31 in the vertical column. The bent arrangement of the tab 44 provides a locking effect and assists in holding the shelf firmly in position upon the vertical column.

The rear corners of each of the shelves 4, 5 and 6 are provided with vertically extending angle members 46 each of which is provided with a recessed portion 47 on the apex thereof and a bolt hole 48 therein. The upper and lower ends of the recessed portions 47 are tapered. The rear corners of the shelves are interconnected by vertical braces 49 each of which has a corresponding plurality of tapered recessed portions 50 which are shaped to conform to the tapered recessed portions 47 on the angle members. The tapered shapes of these recesses and their locations on the apices of their respective angle members will precisely position the shelves and hold the shelves in exact relationship upon the tightening of interconnecting bolts. These bolts are passed through bolt holes 51 in the vertical braces and the bolt holes 48 in the angle members to interconnect the shelves.

The combination of the manner in which the bracket is secured to the post, together with the double taper of the bracket, in conjunction with the vertical braces on the rear corners, provides a sturdy and rigid shelf section on the vertical column. This is true even when the shevles are individual units.

The lowermost shelf 6 is further provided with a hanger member 52 which depends from the front portion of the shelf and is provided with a plurality of spaced Openings 53 each of Which is substantially egg-shaped with the narrow end pointing downwardly. The hooks for the hangers are inserted in these openings and the hangers are self-aligned when the curved hangers are inserted therein. The edges of the openings may be dished inwardly to facilitate insertion of the ends of the hanger hooks therein.

The lowermost shelf 6 is also provided with side brackets 54 which are interconnected between the angle members 46 and the hanger member 53. Each side bracket has an off-set portion 55 as may be seen in FIGURE 7, with this oif-set portion being positioned behind the downward side flanges of the shelf. As a result, the outermost faces 56 of the side brackets are flush with the outermost faces of the side flanges. This side bracket construction greatly strengthens the lowermost shelf and enables the shelf to resist the considerable weight placed thereon when heavy outer coats are suspended from the hanger member 52.

In lieu of providing the hanger member 52 with openings for the hangers, the side brackets 54 may be provided with openings 67 to accommodate individual hangers as shown in FIGURE 6, or each of the side brackets may be provided with an elongated slot 68 as shown in FIGURE 8, into which the hooks of the hangers may be inserted. It may be desirable to support the hangers from the side brackets wherein space in front of the valet rack is at a minimum and is not desired that the hangers project forwardly of the rack as would be the case when the hangers are mounted on the front hanger member 52.

Proceeding next to FIGURE 9, there is illustrated a modification of the present invention which has a considerably greater capacity than the valet rack described above. This modification is indicated at 57 and essentially comprises two of the above-mentioned racks constructed as an integral unit. This is preferably accomplished by providing a base 58 which has an elongated member 59 upon which are mounted umbrella racks 10 and from which extend a pair of front pieces 60. Triangular members 27 are similarly mounted on the front pieces 66 and a footwear rack 61 is mounted between the front pieces 60.

Upstanding from the umbrella racks are vertical columns 62 and 63 upon which are mounted shelves 64, 65 and 66. The shelves 64, 65 and 66 correspond to the shelves 4, 5 and 6 except that the former are each provided with two brackets 38 so that each shelf is detachably mounted on both of the vertical columns 62 and 63.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention has dis-' closed a knock-down valet rack which can be readily disassembled into several component parts. Further, the valet rack can be quickly reassembled by relatively unskilled personnel using only the conventional tools commonly employed with detachable fasteners such as nuts and bolts. The several construction features described above particularly in connection with the mounting of the shelves on the vertical column insure that the assembled valet rack will be rigid and sufficiently sturdy to readily support the loads commonly placed on such racks. The various features described above, all combine to provide a knockdown rack which can be readily assembled into a rigid unit.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A valet rack comprising a T-base having a cross piece and a front piece extending perpendicularly from the midpoint thereof, an umbrella rack mounted on said cross piece and comprising sheet material having reverse bends therein to form a front face and two rear faces, a tri angular shaped piece of sheet material having a U-cross section with one open edge attached to said. umbrell rack;

front face and the other open edge straddling said base front piece and secured thereto, a channel member interconnecting the ends of said rear faces and having its web secured to the rear surface of said front face, a vertical column having a square cross-section and a plurality of vertically spaced slots in the upper portion of a face thereof closely received within said channel member and upstanding from said base, detachable fastener means connecting said vertical column to said cross piece and said channel member web, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves positioned on the upper portion of said vertical column in the vicinity of said slots, each of said shelves having a channel-shaped supporting bracket attached to the under surface thereof, a vertically extending channel member having a shape conforming to the cross-section of said vertical column and secured to the rear edge of each shelf and the rear end of each respective bracket, a tongue extending downwardly and inwardly from the lower edge of each of said channel members and inserted into said slots, and fastener means for detachably connecting the upper end of said channel member to said vertical column so that said channel member closely straddles said vertical column.

2. A valet rack comprising a base having a cross piece and a front piece extending perpendicularly from the midpoint thereof, an umbrella rack mounted on said cross piece and comprising sheet material having reverse bends therein to form front and rear faces, a triangular-shaped piece of sheet material having a U-cross-section with one open edge attached to said umbrella rack front face and the other open edge straddling said base front piece and secured thereto, a vertical column having a plurality of vertically spaced slots in the upper portion of a face thereof positioned in said umbrella rack and upstanding therefrom, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves positioned on the upper portion of said vertical column in the vicinity of said slots, each of said shelves having a channel-shaped supporting bracket attached to the undersurface thereof, a vertically extending channel member having a shape conforming to the cross-section of said vertical column and secured to the rear edge of each and shelf and the rear end of each respective bracket, a tab extending inwardly and downwardly from the lower edge of each of said channel members and inserted into said slots, and fastener means for detachably connecting the upper end of said channel member to said vertical column so that said channel member closely straddles said vertical column.

3. A shelf supporting arrangement for a rack and comprising a vertical column, a shelf positionable on said vertical column, said shelf having a supporting bracket attached to the under-surface thereof, a vertically extending channel member secured to the rear edge of the shelf and the rear end of said supporting bracket and opening away from said shelf, said channel member having a shape conforming to the cross-section of said vertical column so as to fit closely thereon, and vertically spaced fastener means on said channel member for detachably mounting said shelf and bracket on said vertical column.

4. A shelf supporting arrangement for a rack and comprising a vertical column having vertically spaced slots therein, a shelf positionable on said slotted vertical column, said shelf having a supporting bracket attached to the under-surface thereof, a vertically extending channel member secured to the rear edge of the shelf and the rear end of said supporting bracket and opening away from said shelf, said channel member having a shape conforming to the cross-section of said vertical column so as to fit closely thereon, a tab extending downwardly from the lower end of said channel member and inserted into a slot in said vertical column, and fastener means for detachably connecting the upper end of said channel member to said vertical column.

57 A shelf supporting arrangement for a rack and comprising a vertical column, a shelf positionable on said vertical column, said shelf having a channel-shaped supporting bracket attached to the under-surface thereof, the upper edges of the flanges of said channel-supporting bracket being secured to the under-surface of said shelf with the web of each bracket tapering downwardly toward the rear of the shelf, the flanges of said channel-supporting bracket tapering inwardly toward the rear edge of said shelf and extending beyond said shelf rear edge, a vertically extending channel member secured between said extending flange ends of said supporting bracket at the rear edge of said shelf and opening away from said shelf, said channel member having a shape conforming to the cross-section of said vertical column so as to fit closely thereon, and vertically spaced fastener means on said channel member for detachably mounting said shelf and bracket on said vertical column.

6. A shelf supporting arrangement for a rack and comprising a vertical column, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves positionable on said vertical column, each of said shelves having a supporting bracket attached to the undersurface thereof, a vertically extending channel member secured at the rear edge of each shelf and the rear end of each respective bracket and opening away from its respective shelf, said channel members each having a shape conforming to the cross-section of said vertical column so as to fit closely thereon, vertically spaced fastener means on said channel members for detachably mounting said shelves and respective brackets on said vertical column, a vertically extending angle member on each of the rear corners of said shelves, there being a depressed portion on the apex of each of said angle members, vertical braces having depressed portions on the apices thereof corresponding to said angle member depressed portions, and detachable fastener means interconnecting said vertical braces with said shelf angle members at said corresponding depressed portions whereby a rigid but detachable shelf structure on said vertical column is obtained.

7. A shelf supporting arrangement for a rack and comprising a vertical column, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves positionable on said vertical column, each of said shelves having a supporting bracket attached to the undersurface thereof, a vertically extending channel member secured to the rear edge of each of said shelves and the rear end of the respective supporting brackets and opening away from its shelf, said channel members having shapes conforming to the cross-section of said vertical column so as to fit closely thereon, vertically spaced fastener means on said channel members for detachably mounting said shelves and brackets on said vertical column, a flat member depending from the front portion of the lowermost of said shelves and extending the length of the shelf, means on said flat member for supporting a plurality of hangers therefrom and side brackets depending from the ends of said lowermost shelf and connected to said flat member with the outer faces of said side brackets being flush with the edges of said lowermost shelf.

8. A valet rack as claimed in claim 7 and further comprising means on said side brackets for supporting a plurality of hangers therefrom whereby said hangers extend longitudinally with respect to said shelves.

9. A shelf supporting arrangement for a rack and comprising a vertical column, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves positioned on said vertical column, each of said shelves having a supporting bracket attached to the undersurface thereof, a vertically extending channel member secured at the rear edge of each of said shelves and the rear end of its respective supporting bracket and opening away from said shelf, said channel members having shapes conforming to the cross-section of said vertical column so as to fit closely thereon, vertically spaced fastener means on said channel members for detachably mounting said shelves and brackets on said vertical column, a vertically extending angle member on the rear corners on the lowermost of said shelves, vertical braces interconnecting the rear corners of all of said shelves, a flat member depending from the front portion of said lowermost shelf and extending the length thereof, side brackets depending from the ends of said lowermost shelf and connected between said flat member and the corresponding angle member with the outer faces of said side brackets being flush with the edges of said lowermost shelf, and means on one of said flat members and said side brackets for supporting a plurality of hangers therefrom.

10. A shelf supporting arrangement as claimed in claim 9 with said side brackets having offset portions positioned behind said side edge flanges so that the outer m faces of said side brackets are flush with the outer faces of the corresponding side flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VALET RACK COMPRISING A T-BASE HAVING A CROSS PIECE AND A FRONT PIECE EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY FROM THE MIDPOINT THEREOF, AN UMBRELLA RACK MOUNTED ON SAID CROSS PIECE AND COMPRISING SHEET MATERIAL HAVING REVERSE BENDS THEREIN TO FROM A FRONT FACE AND TWO REAR FACES, A TRIANGULAR SHAPED PIECE OF SHEET MATERIAL HAVING A U-CROSS SECTION WITH ONE OPEN EDGE ATTACHED TO SAID UMBRELLA RACK FRONT FACE AND THE OTHER EDGE STRADDLING SAID BASE FRONT PIECE AND SECURED THERETO, A CHANNEL MEMBER INTERCONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID REAR FACES AND HAVING ITS WEB SECURED TO THE REAR SURFACE OF SAID FRONT FACE, A VERTICAL COLUMN HAVING A SQUARE CROSS-SECTION AND A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED SLOTS IN THE UPPER PORTION OF A FACE THEREOF CLOSELY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID CHANNEL MEMBER AND UPSTANDING FROM SAID BASE, DETACHABLY FASTENER MEANS CONNECTING SAID VERTICAL COLUMN TO SAID CROSS PIECE AND SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS WEB, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED SHELVES POSITIONED ON THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID VERTICAL COLUMN IN THE VICINITY OF SAID SLOTS, EACH OF SAID SHELVES HAVING A CHANNEL-SHAPED SUPPORTING BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE UNDER SURFACE THEREOF, A VERTICALLY EXTENDING CHANNEL MEMBER HAVING A SHAPE CONFORMING TO THE CROSS-SECTION OF SAID VERTICAL COLUMN AND SECURED TO THE REAR EDGE OF EACH SHELF AND THE REAR END OF EACH RESPECTIVE BRACKET, A TONGUE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS AND INSERTED INTO SAID SLOTS, AND FASTENER MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING THE UPPER END OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBER TO SAID VERTICAL COLUMN SO TAHT SAID CHANNEL MEMBER CLOSELY STRADDLES SAID VERTICAL COLUMN. 